Tommy Johnson

Manchester City

Born in Dalton-in-Furness, Lancashire, Johnson became an apprentice at the local shipyard. He played football part-time for Dalton Athletic and Dalton Casuals until 1919, when he signed a professional contract with Manchester City following a recommendation from City defender Eli Fletcher; Fletcher had threatened to leave the club if Johnson was not signed. He made a goalscoring debut in a war league match against Blackburn Rovers on 22 February 1919, and scored a hat-trick against Port Vale a fortnight later. League football returned in August 1919, but Johnson did not play for the first team until much later in the season. He made his league debut against Middlesbrough on 18 February 1920 scoring both goals in a 2–0 win, playing in the position previously occupied by Tommy Browell. He kept his place for a further six matches, scoring one more goal. The final match in this run of appearances was a 2–1 win against Liverpool at Hyde Road, which was attended by the reigning monarch, King George V. Johnson made a further three appearances in the remainder of the season. Over the next two seasons Johnson featured intermittently in the first team. He scored five goals in 12 appearances for the first team in 1920–21, playing more regularly for the reserves, for whom he was the leading goalscorer with 18 goals. He became a regular first team selection in 1922–23, playing 35 matches. In 1923 Manchester City moved from Hyde Road to a new stadium, Maine Road,…

Johnson was born at Dalton-in-Furness, Lancashire on 19 August 1901, the son of John and Margaret Johnson. He was baptised at Dalton-in-Furness on 8 September 1901. He married Hannah Smith at Manchester Cathedral on 4 November 1924, the couple had one son.

Johnson later became a publican, running the Woodman Inn in Stockport before taking over the Crown Inn in Gorton in February 1939, and lived in the area for the remainder of his life. He died in Monsall Hospital, Manchester on 28 January 1973, at the age of 71, and was buried at Gorton Cemetery. In 1977 a street near Maine Road, Tommy Johnson Walk, was named in his honour.

Manchester City

FA Cup runner-up: 1925–26 Everton

FA Cup: 1932–33